A Complete Guide to USA Election Vocabulary

Or Any Election This Year! 

You don’t have to be from the United States to know that the country is currently gearing up for another historical election! Debates, drama and dubious amounts of passion, no one does politics quite like the USA, and even though the world is eagerly following along, understanding some of the lingo can be difficult — especially if you’re not a native English speaker. 

To help you navigate through conversations and news reports during this time, we’ve put together an easy guide to some key election-related phrases. Get this out the next time you read the newspaper or an article on your phone! 

USA Election Glossary: 

1. Ballot: This refers to the official list of candidates or issues that you can vote for in an election. It's essentially the menu of choices you have when you go to vote. 

2. Campaign: This is the organized effort of a candidate or group to win an election. Candidates campaign by giving speeches, holding events, and trying to persuade people to vote for them. 

3. Polls: In the context of elections, polls can refer to two things: 

• Opinion Polls: Surveys conducted to gauge public opinion on candidates or issues 
• Polling Place: The physical location where people go to vote 

4. Swing State: Also known as a battleground state, this refers to a US state where the vote could go either way—Republican or Democrat. These states often play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the election. 

5. Primary and Caucus: These are methods used by political parties to select their candidates for the general election. 

• Primary: A state-wide voting process where voters choose their party's candidate for an upcoming general election 
• Caucus: A local meeting where party members discuss and vote on their preferred candidate 

6. Electoral College: In the US, presidents are not elected directly by popular vote but through the Electoral College. Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its population, and these votes determine the outcome of the presidential election. 

7. Red States and Blue States: These terms are used to describe states that typically vote for one of the two major political parties consistently. 

• Red States: States that usually vote Republican 
• Blue States: States that usually vote Democratic 

8. Running Mate: This is the candidate for vice president who runs alongside the presidential candidate. 

9. Voter Registration: To vote in the US you must register beforehand. Voter registration ensures that only eligible citizens participate in elections. 

10. Exit Polls: Surveys conducted with voters as they leave the polling place to predict the outcome of an election before official results are announced. 

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Understanding these terms will not only help you follow conversations about the US election and politics in general, but they’ll also deepen your understanding of the democratic process in the United States, which is especially important for those who wish to study or move to the country. 

Are you one of these students? Then you’re in luck! At Kaplan, we have numerous schools across major US cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and Seattle — so if you want to be in the middle of the action this election season whilst also upgrading your English, then book one of our fantastic language courses abroad now! 

America’s future may rest in the hands of its politicians, but your future is up to you... let us help make it the best one possible. Book your course toady: Learn English in the USA | Kaplan International